Black Spruce - Picea mariana

Today I thought that I'd feature Black Spruce. There is a mini article on Black Spruce on the website and of course a much more in depth profile in the Aromatherapy 201 course material.

If you smell Black Spruce with your eyes closed you can imagine yourself walking through the forest. As its clean, clear aroma envelopes you gain some insight into its respiratory clearing and antiseptic properties; its ability to cleanse and clear the mind, giving one a feeling of peace and balance in the world.

This tree is native to Canada and the northern states of the USA. Black Spruce was used extensively by Native Americans in many different ways.

• The balsam was used as a chewing gum a
• The gum was used as caulking or glue.
  
• Both the inner bark and young shoots were used for food.
• Watertight baskets for storage and cooking were woven from strips of Spruce as were mats to sleep on.
• Spruce was included in ointments, salves and lotions for many skin problems such as biols, burns, skin inflammations, sores and wounds.
• Apparently they used Spruce wood powder to keep their hair dark.
• Canoes were made from the bark and stitched together with needles made from splinters of the wood.

Spruce helps to revive and give one a fresher, happier outlook. In Spiritual PhytoEssencing Dr. Berkowsky gives the following important signatures for understanding the soul nature of Black Spruce:

First, it is a very, nurturing tree. Moose like to browse on black spruce saplings and black spruce needles serve as a primary food for snowshoe hares in winter. Also, the tree’s seeds serve as a food supply for a wide variety of rodents and birds. Furthermore, a decoction of the young branches yields essence of spruce which for centuries has served as the primary ingredient in spruce beer.
Second is black spruce’s relationship to fire. Because of its thin bark and shallow roots, the tree is easily killed by fire, even low-intensity, surface fires. However, immediately following fire,large quantities of seeds are released from the cones. Delayed seed-fall and germination are post-fire adaptations that help ensure the survival of the species within a given ecosystem by making seeds available for germination and establishment in the post-fire period. The seeds are not destroyed by fire because the black spruce cones are located in the tree’s upper crown where they are least likely to burn. The seeds remain viable even if the tree has been killed by the fire.
The third key signature is the association between black spruce and binding and containing. Traditionally rope was manufactured from spruce roots. North western Indian tribes used the root as a basket material. Additionally, the Quinault tribe of western Washington used spruce root fibers for tying the tines of their salmon spears. They also sewed the corners of boxes with spruce root fibers. Some tribes used spruce limb fibers for whaling rope, binding for house parts and to tie in the cross-pieces in canoes. Spruce pitch was also used to caulk canoes.

I have included Black Spruce in a number of synergies for these soul qualities, for the person who really needs to nurture themselves; for the person who is facing having to start all over again, and whether it is just a small job that needs redoing or a complete life overall, I have found Black Spruce to be a wonderful support for them in their journey forward; and especially for the person who feels trapped or constained in any way. Black Spruce can really help them to move forward whether this is on an energetic level "I feel trapped in my life" or a physical one "my nerve feels trapped."

Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.

Workshops for 2010
These are offered once a month, generally the third weekend of the month so follow the link and browse through the offerings for 2010.

January 16
Indian Head Massage
$150.00 plus GST
Prerequisites: None

As always the self-directed home study Aromatherapy Courses are available. When you are ready they are only a click away, a click that will lead you into a world filled with information, self-growth and delight! Perhaps they will be a gift you give yourself this year!

If you don't want something as formal as a course perhaps you'll find what you are looking for in one of our E-books or our aroma massage DVD.

E-books currently available: Infant Massage, Subtle Aromatherapy and Aromatic Gifts for All Ages and All Seasons.

I am getting closer and Aromatic Lords and Ladies of the Zodiac, an exercise in energetic blending, is almost ready now. I should be able to offer this in the next week or two. It will be a good resource for anyone interested in creating synergies for the energetics of the person, place or circumstance.